Shelfy vs Raindrop.io: Complete Comparison for Link Management (2025)

Choosing between Shelfy and Raindrop.io? Both are powerful link management tools, but they serve different needs and philosophies.

The short answer: Raindrop.io is a visual bookmark manager with beautiful screenshot previews. Shelfy is a link collection platform with unlimited free features, team collaboration, and public sharing capabilities.

This guide breaks down every difference to help you choose the right tool for your workflow.

Quick Comparison

Platform Philosophy

Shelfy: Link Collections for Sharing

Shelfy approaches link management as shareable collections—think curated resource pages you can publish and share with others.

Core philosophy:

• Links are meant to be shared, not just saved
• Teams need collaboration without paywalls
• Professional features should be free
• Public collections build audience

Strengths:

• Team collaboration with no limits
• Public-facing collection pages
• Custom domains for branding
• API access for automation
• Community voting on links

Raindrop.io: Visual Bookmark Manager

Raindrop.io approaches link management as personal/team bookmarking—focused on saving and organizing content with visual previews.

Core philosophy:

• Bookmarks should be visual and browsable
• Organization through nested hierarchy
• Clean, minimal interface
• Cross-platform sync

Strengths:

• Beautiful screenshot previews
• Deep nesting (unlimited levels)
• Native mobile apps
• Full-text search (Pro)
• Permanent copies (Pro)

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Organization & Structure

Shelfy

Organization model: Collections → Categories → Tags

Collection: Marketing Resources
├── Category: SEO Tools
│   └── Links with tags: #free, #analytics
├── Category: Content Marketing
│   └── Links with tags: #writing, #research
└── Category: Social Media
    └── Links with tags: #scheduling, #analytics

Features:

• Unlimited collections (separate pages)
• Categories within collections
• Cross-cutting tags
• Custom ordering (drag-and-drop)
• Search across all collections

Best for: Creating multiple distinct resource pages, each with its own URL and organization.

Raindrop.io

Organization model: Nested Collections (folders within folders)

Collection: Marketing
├── Sub-collection: SEO
│   ├── Sub-collection: Tools
│   └── Sub-collection: Articles
├── Sub-collection: Content
└── Sub-collection: Social

Features:

• Unlimited nesting depth
• Collection icons and colors
• Smart collections (auto-filter)
• Multiple sort options
• Filters by type, date, domain

Best for: Deep hierarchical organization, especially for research and personal knowledge management.

Winner: Depends on use case. Raindrop for deep personal organization. Shelfy for multiple shareable collections.

Visual Experience

Shelfy

Link display:

• Card layout with title, description, favicon
• Optional thumbnail images
• Clean, functional design
• Custom descriptions

Customization:

• Collection themes/colors
• Custom branding
• Profile images
• Layout options

Raindrop.io

Link display:

• Full-page screenshot previews
• Multiple view modes (cards, headlines, moodboard)
• Automatic favicon extraction
• Cover images for collections

Customization:

• Collection icons (custom or library)
• View mode per collection
• Dark/light theme
• Accent colors

Winner: Raindrop.io for visual browsing. The screenshot previews make it easy to recognize pages at a glance—especially useful for design inspiration and visual research.

Collaboration

Shelfy

Free tier:

• Unlimited team members
• Role-based permissions
• Shared collections
• Activity tracking
• Comments on links

How it works:

• Invite members to your workspace
• Create shared collections
• Set permissions (view, edit, admin)
• Everyone contributes

Team features:

• No per-seat pricing
• Unlimited collaborators
• Real-time updates

Raindrop.io

Free tier:

• Share collections (view only)
• No editing collaboration

Pro tier ($28/year):

• Up to 3 collaborators per collection
• Edit permissions
• Team library

Limitations:

• Maximum 3 editors per collection
• Can't add more collaborators without workarounds
• Pro required for any real collaboration

Winner: Shelfy by far. Unlimited free collaboration vs. Raindrop's 3-person Pro limit. For teams, this isn't close.

Public Sharing

Shelfy

Public collections:

• Each collection gets a unique URL
• Fully branded pages
• Custom domains (free)
• SEO-friendly
• Embed on websites
• Visitor analytics

Use cases:

• Resource pages for audiences
• Curated lists for clients
• Public knowledge bases
• Link-in-bio alternatives

Example: links.yourbrand.com/resources

Raindrop.io

Public collections:

• Shareable public link
• Read-only access
• Basic Raindrop branding
• RSS feed available
• Embed widget

Limitations:

• No custom domains
• Limited branding
• Less polished public view

Winner: Shelfy for public sharing. Custom domains, branding, and purpose-built public pages make it the clear choice for sharing with audiences.

Search & Discovery

Shelfy

Search capabilities:

• Full-text search (titles, descriptions)
• Filter by collection, category, tag
• Search across workspace

Discovery:

• Browse by category
• Filter by tags
• Community voting surfaces best links

Raindrop.io

Free search:

• Title and URL search
• Filter by collection, type, date

Pro search:

• Full-text search (page content)
• Search inside PDFs
• Duplicate detection
• Broken link checker

Permanent copies (Pro):

• Saves page content
• Search within saved content
• Access even if original goes offline

Winner: Raindrop.io Pro for search power. Full-text search of actual page content is powerful for researchers. Free tiers are comparable.

API & Automation

Shelfy

API access: Free

Capabilities:

• 1,000 requests/hour
• Full CRUD operations
• Webhook support
• Bulk operations

Use cases:

• Automated link saving
• Integration with other tools
• Custom workflows
• Programmatic collection management

Raindrop.io

API access: Pro only

Capabilities:

• REST API
• OAuth authentication
• Standard operations

Integrations:

• Zapier
• IFTTT
• Raycast
• Alfred

Winner: Shelfy for API accessibility. Free API access vs. Pro-only is significant for developers and automation enthusiasts.

Mobile Experience

Shelfy

Mobile access:

• Responsive web app
• Mobile browser support
• Share sheet integration (via browser)

Limitations:

• No native apps
• Requires browser

Raindrop.io

Mobile access:

• Native iOS app
• Native Android app
• Offline access
• Share sheet integration
• Widget support

Features:

• Full feature parity
• Fast and polished
• Background sync

Winner: Raindrop.io for mobile. Native apps provide a significantly better mobile experience than web-based alternatives.

Browser Extension

Shelfy

Extension features:

• One-click save
• Collection selector
• Tag assignment
• Custom description
• Quick access to collections

Supported browsers:

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Edge

Raindrop.io

Extension features:

• One-click save
• Highlights and annotations
• Auto-suggest collections
• Mini app mode
• Right-click save

Supported browsers:

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Edge
• Opera

Winner: Raindrop.io slightly ahead. Highlights/annotations and Safari support give it an edge, though both extensions are solid.

Pricing Breakdown

Shelfy

What "everything" includes:

• Unlimited collections
• Unlimited links
• Unlimited team members
• Custom domains
• API access (1,000 req/hr)
• Analytics
• Public sharing
• No branding

No paid tier exists. Shelfy is genuinely free with no feature gates.

Raindrop.io

Free limitations:

• No full-text search
• No collaboration (view-only sharing)
• No API access
• No permanent copies
• No nested tags

Pro unlocks:

• Full-text content search
• 3 collaborators per collection
• API access
• Permanent copies
• Nested tags
• Duplicate finder
• Broken link checker

Annual cost comparison:

Winner: Shelfy on pure value. Everything free vs. $28/year for Pro features. However, if you specifically need Raindrop's Pro features (full-text search, permanent copies), the $28/year is reasonable.

Use Case Recommendations

Choose Shelfy If You...

1. Need team collaboration

• Unlimited team members free
• No per-seat pricing
• Real collaboration, not just sharing

2. Want public-facing collections

• Custom domains
• Branded pages
• Audience-facing resources
• Link-in-bio alternative

3. Need API access without paying

• 1,000 requests/hour free
• Build automations
• Custom integrations

4. Want everything free

• No feature gates
• No "upgrade to unlock"
• Professional features at $0

5. Manage multiple distinct collections

• Separate URLs per collection
• Different audiences/purposes
• Not just one big bookmark folder

Ideal users:

• Content creators sharing resources
• Teams curating knowledge bases
• Agencies managing client resources
• Educators sharing course materials
• Anyone avoiding subscription fatigue

Choose Raindrop.io If You...

1. Value visual browsing

• Screenshot previews
• Moodboard view
• Design inspiration
• Visual recognition

2. Need deep hierarchical organization

• Unlimited nesting
• Complex taxonomy
• Research organization
• Personal knowledge management

3. Want native mobile apps

• iOS/Android apps
• Offline access
• Better mobile UX

4. Need full-text search

• Search page content (Pro)
• Find within PDFs
• Research retrieval

5. Want permanent copies

• Pages saved even if original dies
• Archive important content
• Research preservation

Ideal users:

• Designers collecting inspiration
• Researchers organizing sources
• Personal knowledge managers
• Heavy mobile users
• Anyone needing content archival

Migration: Switching Between Tools

From Raindrop to Shelfy

1. Export from Raindrop

   • Settings → Export → HTML or CSV
   • Download all collections

2. Import to Shelfy

   • Create collections in Shelfy
   • Use bulk import feature
   • Reorganize as needed

3. What transfers:

   • URLs
   • Titles
   • Descriptions (if exported)
   • Basic organization

4. What doesn't transfer:

   • Screenshot previews
   • Highlights/annotations
   • Permanent copies
   • Nested structure (flatten or recreate)

From Shelfy to Raindrop

1. Export from Shelfy

   • Collection settings → Export
   • Download as HTML or CSV

2. Import to Raindrop

   • Settings → Import → Upload file
   • Auto-creates collection

3. What transfers:

   • URLs
   • Titles
   • Descriptions

4. What doesn't transfer:

   • Categories/tags (need to retag)
   • Team permissions
   • Custom domain setup
   • Voting data

Head-to-Head Scenarios

Scenario 1: Marketing Team Resource Library

Need: Central place for marketing tools, templates, articles. 5 team members contributing.

Shelfy: Create "Marketing Resources" collection with categories. Invite all 5 team members free. Share public link with contractors. Add custom domain.

Raindrop: Create collection, but only 3 people can edit (Pro). Others are view-only. No custom domain for sharing.

Winner: Shelfy

Scenario 2: Design Inspiration Collection

Need: Save designs, UI patterns, color palettes. Browse visually. Personal use.

Shelfy: Save links with descriptions. Card view shows thumbnails but no full screenshots.

Raindrop: Full-page screenshots in moodboard view. Visual browsing. Filter by color.

Winner: Raindrop.io

Scenario 3: Research Project Organization

Need: Organize 500+ sources for thesis. Deep categorization. Search within saved content.

Shelfy: Create collection, use categories and tags. Search titles/descriptions.

Raindrop: Nested collections for chapters/themes. Full-text search of actual page content (Pro). Permanent copies for citation access.

Winner: Raindrop.io Pro

Scenario 4: Client Resource Delivery

Need: Share curated resources with clients. Branded, professional presentation.

Shelfy: Custom domain (resources.agency.com), no Shelfy branding, professional public page, analytics on what clients view.

Raindrop: Shareable link with Raindrop branding, less polished public view.

Winner: Shelfy

Scenario 5: Personal Bookmarks

Need: Save articles to read later. Basic organization. Mobile access.

Shelfy: Works well, but web-based mobile experience.

Raindrop: Native apps, offline access, quick mobile saving, widget.

Winner: Raindrop.io

Feature Comparison Table

The Verdict

Shelfy Wins For:

• Teams (unlimited free collaboration)
• Public sharing (custom domains, branded pages)
• Budget-conscious users (everything free)
• API/automation (free access)
• Creators (audience-facing collections)

Raindrop.io Wins For:

• Visual bookmarking (screenshot previews)
• Deep organization (nested hierarchy)
• Mobile users (native apps)
• Researchers (full-text search, permanent copies)
• Personal use (polished solo experience)

Overall Recommendation

If you're choosing one tool:

• Choose Shelfy if you collaborate with others, share publicly, or want maximum features at zero cost. The free tier is genuinely unmatched.

• Choose Raindrop.io if you're a solo user who values visual browsing, native mobile apps, or needs Pro features like full-text search and permanent copies. At $28/year, Pro is reasonably priced.

Many users use both:

• Raindrop for personal bookmarking and visual collections
• Shelfy for team collaboration and public sharing

They complement each other well.

Getting Started

Try Shelfy

1. Sign up at shelfy.today (free, no credit card)
2. Create your first collection
3. Install browser extension
4. Invite team members
5. Set up custom domain (optional)

Start Free with Shelfy →

Try Raindrop.io

1. Sign up at raindrop.io (free tier available)
2. Install browser extension and mobile apps
3. Create collections
4. Consider Pro for full-text search and collaboration

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use both Shelfy and Raindrop.io?

Yes, many users do. Use Raindrop for personal visual bookmarking, Shelfy for team collaboration and public sharing. They serve different purposes well.

Is Shelfy really free forever?

Yes. Shelfy has no paid tiers. All features—custom domains, API, team collaboration, analytics—are free forever. They monetize through optional enterprise services, not individual subscriptions.

Is Raindrop.io Pro worth $28/year?

If you need full-text search, permanent copies, or collaboration beyond view-only sharing, yes. For basic bookmarking, free tier is sufficient.

Which has better search?

Raindrop.io Pro searches actual page content. Shelfy searches titles and descriptions. For research retrieval, Raindrop Pro wins. For most use cases, both are adequate.

Can I import my bookmarks from browsers?

Both support HTML bookmark import from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.

Which is better for link-in-bio?

Shelfy—it's designed for public-facing collections with custom domains and professional presentation. Raindrop is more focused on personal bookmarking.

Do either work offline?

Raindrop's mobile apps have offline access. Shelfy is web-based and requires internet connection.

Related Reading

• Best Link in Bio Tools 2025 - Comprehensive comparison of all tools
• Team Link Repository Guide - Building shared collections for teams
• How to Organize Scattered Links - Complete organization system

Last updated: April 2025. Features and pricing verified as of publication date.